An essay on the government of children, under three general heads, viz. health, manners, and educationNelson, James
History
An essay on the government of children, under three general heads, viz. health, manners, and education
Nelson, James
Child rearing -- England -- History -- 18th century
Still I warmly urge, that no contemptuous Neglect be shewn her; let
her be taught as thorough a Knowledge of her Mother-tongue as if she
were a Princess; let her too write, and dance, and speak _French_ to
Perfection: Music too I recommend, but not to Perfection. Here, I am
afraid, my Readers will start, and think that either the Author or the
Printer has committed an Error; but a little Patience, and we shall, I
hope, understand one another. When we consult a Physician, or a Council,
they take the Fee, and give us their Opinion; which Opinion we may either
reject or follow as we please. When I set out in this Undertaking, I
declared myself not a Lawgiver, but an Adviser; as such then let me be
considered. I speak my Mind freely, and like an honest Lawyer give my
Opinion honestly; where the Advice is good, follow it; where erroneous,
reject it: thus should all reasonable People do, taking along with them
this Caution, not to condemn rashly and precipitately, but weigh the
Matter well; and neither lavishly bestow unjust Praises, nor unfairly
rob Merit of it’s Due. This premised, I return to my Subject. It is
very certain, that a young Lady of this Class should learn Music; it
gives her a sprightly pleasing Air; it is a fine Relaxation from more
serious Employments; and it greatly contributes to keep up a Chearfulness
thro’ the whole Family: but I would not have her ambitious to excel;
and I think Parents ought not to covet it. To attain Music to great
Perfection, and to study the _Italian_ for that Purpose, is a Work of
great Labour, Time, and Expence; too much by far to gain what at last
amounts to no more than an Amusement. Ladies of great Rank and Fortune
have every thing at their Command, therefore should aim at Perfection
in all they undertake; but those in more private Life, have certainly
other things to do. They are, by all the Rules of Prudence, to be taught
to work: they should be taught to know too, that they must reduce their
Theory to Practice. They are to stoop likewise to domestic Cares; whereby
they will often be enabled to boast a Happiness which greater Ladies
are Strangers to. But supposing that either to gratify herself or her
Friends she engages deeply in the Study of Music; Parents are here often
cajoled out of their Money, and their Senses too, by their Daughter’s
fancied Excellence: and the same Man that is lavish in his Praises to
the fond Father’s Face, will perhaps in the very next Company swear
the Girl squeaks like a Pig. There is a great deal of Insincerity,
nay the grossest Flattery, attends this kind of Study; and Parents in
general have need of better Eyes than common to see thro’ it. However,
not to injure the young Lady’s Capacity, I will grant that she really
does excel: still I say, her Time might have been much better employed
in acquiring more useful Knowledge: such as is properly suited to her
Station. There are yet other Inconveniencies attending this Study when a
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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